It's always a challenge to make time for running.
Don't misunderstand. I love running. It's not a chore or something that I do because I have to. I do it because I want to.
Nevertheless, it is a challenge to make time for it.
I have a thirty minute run to fit in to my schedule tonight. Here's how it will go. I finish work at 4:30pm. I will drive home, change quickly, check my sugar, fill my water bottles, stretch for a few minutes and hopefully start running by 5pm. Home by 5:30pm. Then I have to stretch. Properly done, my stretching routine takes about 30 minutes. Then I ice my shins and calves for about 15 minutes. So it's now 6:15pm. Time to shower and throw my running clothes in the laundry. Best case scenario is that my 30 minute run is over at 6:30pm.
Don't even get me started on the 13k Tuesday night runs we start in a few weeks. Best case for those is that I'm in the kitchen ready to eat at 7:30pm. That's assuming that Doug is home and able to make dinner while I'm out. Otherwise, I start cooking at 7:30pm.
I'm not complaining. Rather, I'm just painting a picture of the life of a commited runner.
There are periods when life is easy, I have lots of energy and runs just seem to fit nicely into my day. That's when I run for fun.
Then there are periods where work is overwhelmingly busy, life outside of work is just as crazy and I can barely find the energy to get the runs in. Those are the times when running is critical. When everything feels chaotic, running calms things for a while. Because, once the time is carved into the schedule and the shoes are on, it's just me and the road.
When I run I can tune out all the chaos or I can use the time to get organized in my head. Either way, it's therapeutic.
Sitting on the deck afterwards with my chocolate milk and my yoga mat, I stretch my legs and watch the birds flitting through the trees overhead. It's peaceful and rejuvenating.
This week I'm feeling pretty exhausted and just want to curl up for a nap. But there is no time for rest and the weekend is chock full of activities. I could crawl home tonight and sit on the couch. Or I can go for a run.
I'm going to go for a run. It might not be fast and it might not be pretty - but it will be worth it.
I am so happy it is more that just John and I that struggle to fit our lives in..... let alone our running into our lives. Right now with training for the 100 km trailhike it is a HUGE chore to even get to run 3 times a week. But like you said, it never feels like a chore when I am out there.
ReplyDeleteIt's just getting the shoes on and out the door is the hard part. I think as life gets busier, is when I really NEED to run, more then ever. Helps slow life down and keep perspective. After a good run, all those big problems don't seem so big anymore. 2 kids in soccer (3 nites/week), music lessons, hockey, etc, plus 90 min commute to work (and 90 min home) each day. I laugh when folks say "I don't have time to exercise". At this point in my life, I can't imagine NOT running, and being able to cope with it all. If something is important enough to you; you'll MAKE the time.
ReplyDeleteI know that feeling all too well.
ReplyDeleteESPECIALLY with diabetes in the mix. The pre planning takes time and brain power as does the aftermath of the run. Properly timed blood sugars with food and then sleep can be hard to squeeze in. BUT we do it right? because we love it. Sometimes we just have to give up a lot of things for it.